25 Feb 2019

Outdated, unsafe buildings in scathing Defence Force report

From Morning Report, 7:55 am on 25 February 2019
The RNZAF Woodbourne Airbase near Blenheim.

The RNZAF Woodbourne Airbase near Blenheim. Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal

A scathing Defence Force assessment highlights outdated, potentially earthquake prone, unsafe and failing buildings. RNZ has obtained a briefing document to Defence Minister Ron Mark in September 2018, and signed on behalf of Defence Chief Kevin Short. It says much of the estate - camps, buildings, roads and water infrastructure - is old, outdated and 41 per cent is barely meeting, or failing to meet, functional requirements. Our defence reporter, Jonathan Mitchell, has details.